Cowardly: Floyd Mayweather Backtracks on Pacquiao PED Accusations

By this point, everyone knows the story. Mayweather returned from a brief retirement to supposedly prove he is the best fighter in the world against Manny Pacquiao. Both men engaged in several tune-up matches as Mayweather worked to get back into tip-top shape, and a superlight between the pair appeared imminent.

Then the drama started.

Mayweather wanted one type of drug testing, but Pacquiao wouldn’t oblige. Then Pacquiao agreed, but Mayweather had moved on to demanding another form of drug testing. Money controversy, public and private battles, and defamation suits followed – and to date, we are no closer to an epic showdown between these men than we were one year ago.

This is all documented, established history.

Now, while doing press for his upcoming match against Victor Ortiz, Mayweather has attempted to re-write history - something that isn’t going over well with his fans and critics alike.

During his latest presser, Mayweather uttered the following:

“I’ve never said that Manny Pacquiao was taking steroids, I never said he was taking enhancement drugs,” said Mayweather.

“I want to fight the best they got out there, not just him, the best they got out there,” Mayweather said, “and if he’s on the list as one of the best guys, then absolutely.”

Right.

Countless online videos pestering Pacquiao to take the test, your fiancée and various relatives taking turns demanding that he take the test, and a defamation suit levied against you were all the result of your never-ending quest to purify the sport of boxing. Whatever you say, Floyd.

It’s amazing that a man who has spent this much time embarking on a very justifiable crusade against Pacquiao will not simply own up to it. Admit that you think Pacquiao is on PEDs and there’s no problem. Cower behind some ridiculous excuse – then you have a problem. Sure, maybe you never uttered the words “He’s on something,” but you’ve alluded to it more times than anyone cares to count.

The truth is, Pacquiao’s ridiculous initial excuses for not wanting to take the PED tests as Mayweather specified took a lot of people by surprise. First it was something about needles, then it was something about not giving in to Mayweather because of pride, and then it was some other nonsensical reason. It all felt very fabricated and very fake, so it was perfectly understandable that Mayweather didn’t want to risk his spotless record against a potentially dirty fighter.

But to not own up to that now, it’s simply cowardly.

“It’s not just Pacquiao, it’s sports, period,” Mayweather said. “If you look at sports in the Olympics, they’re cheating. Everyone is cheating. And I never once said Manny Pacquiao was cheating, only thing I said was this: Me and any other opponent I face must take the test.”

If nothing else, Mayweather definitely deserves credit for his extraordinary ability to open his mouth wide enough to fit his foot.